2026 SD Winter Rankings Preview

SOUTH DAKOTA-- With the release of our new update with our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/dakotas/rankings/south-dakota-rankings/2026-rankings/">2026 rankings</a>, we preview the class with, taking a look at our rankings process, our newly updated top five, where the trends are in this 2026 class, and much more! You can expect plenty of 2026 content in the coming weeks!   Our PRZ Prospect Evaluation Process:   Our #1 priority and goal with Prep Redzone Dakotas is to put athletes to expose them to the college coaches and college programs at all levels to advance their exposure. We evaluate prospects on next-level potential; not stats, not on the team's rankings in the state, it's all about prospect upside and how their skillsets fit in and apply at the next level when it comes down to measurables, athleticism and everything else that college football programs measure as far as skillsets within their evaluations. Rankings are also done with our tier system which simply groups athletes with other athletes of similar skillsets based on level. Ex: #1-#15 in state are usually reserved for Division I graded prospects, but at all levels those tiers are subject to change. All prospects will need to have tape available or have been referred to us by our anonymous sources throughout the North Dakota or South Dakota. Some prospects will peak with a higher rank searly in their high school careers which is why our rankings change 3-4 times per year at Prep Redzone Dakotas, because we also always factor in several live evaluations year-around thru prospect camps in the spring and summer, games during the fall season, and 7v7 season, as we have seen several prospects within a 3-month span add 30 pounds of muscle and a couple inches of height, while others stay the same. That is our clear-cut process with every rankings update for those of you that are new to us! Our main goal? Expose as many prospects state-wide to make sure they get the exposure they deserve in the Dakotas get next-level opportunities thru our network of college programs from Division I FBS, FCS, Division II, NAIA, Division and the JUCO ranks. We also on occassion will individually refer prospects to college coaches at all levels, other recruiting sources, etc. for their input to share.   Meet our Top 5:   Only one one movement was made in our top five. You will see in the short notes below   #5: [player_tooltip player_id='849018' first='Grant' last='Wilkinson'], OL, De Smet <a href="https://x.com/GrantWilk07">Twitter</a>   #4: [player_tooltip player_id='848853' first='Bradley' last='Esser'], DB, Harrisburg <a href="https://x.com/bradleyesser11">Twitter</a>   #3: [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'], WR, Sioux Falls Washington <a href="https://x.com/Dveyoun11">Twitter</a>   -Nebraska commit   #2: [player_tooltip player_id='1212282' first='Edward' last='Whiting'], TE, Sioux Falls Jefferson <a href="https://x.com/EdwardWhiting9">Twitter</a>   -Moved into the #2 spot with the high volume of recruiting actions at the Power four level that has came in over the last several months.   #1: [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'], IOL/DT, Brandon Valley <a href="https://x.com/Hud_Parliament">Twitter</a>   -Hudson has a total of 14 Power 4 offers as has been our consensus #1 overall prospect since our rankings came out with this 2026 SD class.   Key Points with this SD 2026 Class Update:   The Rise of Skill Positions   You have heard it before that the Dakotas in general dominates in the trenches, but we get the best of both worlds with this 2026 class. This one of the deeper OL classes we have had to date yes, but in my eyes the skill positions have been more dominant with this winter 2026 rankings update. These are the skill players trending high with that growth inside our top 20 (outside of the top five I just talked about)   #20: [player_tooltip player_id='848928' first='Daevion' last='Simonsen'], RB, Sioux Falls Jefferson <a href="https://x.com/daevions1monsen">Twitter</a>   #17: [player_tooltip player_id='563996' first='Jhace' last='Woods'], WR, Sioux Falls Washington <a href="https://x.com/JhaceWoods">Twitter</a>   #15: [player_tooltip player_id='1370672' first='Louison' last='Akossi'], WR, Sioux Falls Lincoln <a href="https://x.com/Louison_Akossi">Twitter</a>   #13: [player_tooltip player_id='1363881' first='Canyon' last='Prins'], ATH, Sioux Falls Christian <a href="https://x.com/canyon_prins">Twitter</a>   #11: [player_tooltip player_id='848975' first='Shane' last='Veenhof'], WR, Madison <a href="https://x.com/Shane_Veenhof">Twitter</a>   #9: [player_tooltip player_id='1112592' first='Josiah' last='Heinz'], RB, Harrisburg <a href="https://x.com/JosiahHeinz57">Twitter</a>   #8: [player_tooltip player_id='1475675' first='Tobin' last='Squires'], TE, Sioux Valley <a href="https://x.com/tobinsquires">Twitter</a>   #7: [player_tooltip player_id='848993' first='Tate' last='Gerdes'], ATH, Lennox <a href="https://x.com/tategerdes11">Twitter</a>   This 2026 SD Class is Deeper than Most, Earlier than Most   When it comes down to our rankings, I feel we know more about this South Dakota 2026 class quicker than usual. We usually don't have 220 athletes usually until our second last update with a given class before the last ever winter one comes out where the class is pretty much set and stone. What does that tell us? I believe across every tier of D1, D2, NAIA, D3, and the few JUCO athletes we will likely have in South Dakota that this 2026 class positions deeper than some classes we have had in the past. I can already tell the NSIC and RMAC are going to have fun recruiting this 2026 class, same with the Missouri Valley too as I feel unlike other markets, the emphasis for many of the programs that recruit SD, focus on getting the best high school players which I can't say about each of the other 39 states in our PRZ network. As I said earlier, our rankings our done by tiers, so weather you are ranked #30 or #45, you are still in the same Division II tier as that athlete, etc. as an example.   Who could be the next "early offer" in his class?   Obviously those top four prospects we listed earlier already have FCS and Power Four offers, but we also feel there are several that could heat up this summer or before. These are my early five that intrigue me as a possible early offer.   [player_tooltip player_id='849018' first='Grant' last='Wilkinson'], OL, De Smet <a href="https://x.com/GrantWilk07">Twitter</a>   6'8 310 pounds and moves like a deer with his footwork and is a man amongst boys at the 9-man level. Grant is a prime early target for SDSU or NDSU in my eyes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1475675' first='Tobin' last='Squires'], TE, Sioux Valley <a href="https://x.com/tobinsquires">Twitter</a>   Tobin was one that intrigued me as a new addition from our last 2026 update and now with his junior tape available, he was a big stockriser landing in our top 10 in the state. The 6'7 240 pounder has such balance at the tight end position as a pass-catcher and a blocker and is stacked with upside. Surely someone in the Missouri Valley should take first crack at Tobin offer wise.   [player_tooltip player_id='1568226' first='Jackson' last='Wadsworth'], QB, Hamlin <a href="https://x.com/Jackson_wads23">Twitter</a>   Jackson is my favorite newcomer in our 2026 class. I'll touch more base on Jackson this week, but this young man's arm talent rose him from unranked to inside our top 20, showing off fantastic growth with his junior tape.   [player_tooltip player_id='1406689' first='Chase' last='DeBoer'], DL, Tea Area <a href="https://x.com/chase_debo25020">Twitter</a>   The 6'4 220 pounder has already taken some Division I visits recently, and I feel some of the most intriguing moves I have seen amongst the defensive end group in this 2026 class. More on Chase coming soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='1475610' first='Colby' last='Flowers'], TE, WWSSC <a href="https://x.com/ColbyFlowers07">Twitter</a>   We know how much the Jackrabbits like to take the high upside tight end out of South Dakota, and I feel WWSSC tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1475610' first='Colby' last='Flowers'] could be a good fit in the coming year or two. The 6'5 210 pounder is a hybrid TE and WR and screams of that upside they like in Brookings. Plus, the last time I called a 6'5 prospect a D1 target from Wessington Springs it was a good call, as it was SDSU starting offensive linemen <a href="https://gojacks.com/sports/football/roster/quinten-christensen/13778">Quinten Christensen</a> back in the day.   What is On Tap for Content in the Coming Weeks?   Content will flow consistently from both Dakotas daily over the next week or two from each of these groups of article series:   Newcomers (Multi-Part Series)   -Who was added to our prospect database of 2025 prospects and what do they bring to the table as far as their skillsets?   Stockrisers (Multi-Part Series)   -Which prospects that were already ranked in the 2025 class rose their stock from last update into this offseason and why did their rank see improvement?   Positional Breakdowns (Multiple Positions)   -We will stack up some of our position groups and evaluate why x prospect was ranked over x prospect due to what their tape shows, live evaluation shows, etc.   Small Town Sleepers   -One of my favorite article series every ranking update. Which prospects from sleepy small town America made waves on our rankings whether newcomers or stockrisers? We always love to talk the population too showing off these prospects from small town North Dakota. Any prospect from a small town under 5000 will get mentioned.

SOUTH DAKOTA-- With the release of our new update with our 2026 rankings, we preview the class with, taking a look at our rankings process, our newly updated top five, where the trends are in this 2026 class, and much more! You can expect plenty of 2026 content in the coming weeks!